I personally believe it can be from the Plaquenil also. However, have that field vision test asap and get a second opinion if you can afford to do so. Also, if you have a Rheumy, talk to them about it also. Halos are definitely a side effect of Plaquenil. Something may be beginning that is not yet even noticeable. You only have two eyes so do everything you can to make sure things remain as they should.

I had the field vision test today but have to wait for the eye doctor to give me the results. But even if it comes back normal I think I am still going to have reservations about this. The halos I was seeing were not even blurry - they looked like a perfectly shaped solid ring. Unfortunately I can't ask a rheumatologist about it. There is only one good one in my area and I have to wait until February 2010 to see him for the first time. My primary care physician started me on the Plaquenil in the meantime.

Sam is your dosage high? Mines basically 300mgs daily sometimes I take days off. Also my pharmy told me to take a month off every yr.

Some days I skip trying to keep toxicity low. I had my vision checked recently and its fine.
Have you tried hot cloths on the eye lids for 4-5 minutes as hot as you can stand? Then massage the lids sometimes the oil in the glands gets sticky and causes bluriness. Getting them to flow for me hleps instantly with clearer vision. Scary !

"Changes in vision, blurriness, blind spots, halos around lights, or dimness of vision should always be evaluated by a medical professional. Such changes may represent an eye disease, aging, eye injury, or a condition like diabetes that affects many organs in your body.

Whatever the cause, vision changes should never be ignored. They can get worse and significantly impact the quality of your life. Professional help is always necessary. As you determine which professional to see, the following descriptions may help:

Opticians dispense glasses and do not diagnose eye problems.
Optometrists perform eye exams and may diagnose eye problems. They prescribe glasses and contact lenses. In some states, they treat diseases that affect the eyes.
Ophthalmologists are physicians who diagnose and treat diseases that affect the eyes. These doctors may also provide routine vision care services, such as prescribing glasses and contact lenses.
Sometimes an eye problem is part of a general health problem. In these situations, your primary care provider should also be involved. "

I have small cataracts beginning on my eyes, and i do not see halos around street lights. Seeing halo around streetlights could be a sign of serious eyes disease, hope you get an answer soon.

Tom, I have been on 200mg per day for 3 months and this last month upped it to 300mg per day. My primary care physician prescribed 400mg per day, but since I always seem prone to side effects I have been taking it slow. Funny you should mention the hot cloths. I was recently referred to the opthamologist for pain in my left eye. Among other things, he suggested putting rice in a sock and heating it in the microwave for 30 seconds. Then he said to hold it on my eyes for 10 minutes. This has been very soothing. What's also strange is that the halos I'm seeing are worse with the eye that isn't giving me pain! Still haven't gotten the results of the field vision test but I picked up vibes from the technician that it was ok. Still not sure what I'm going to do.

Just went to my favorite optical physician this am because of buring, like sweat running in my eyes. I am continually fighting this and this summer and fall has been the worst. I have cut down my medications because of the drying effects of everything that starts with "anti-". I did start Plaquenil 2 months ago, no miracle yet but I don't think the severe dry eye has gotten worse because of it. The doctor gave me a sheet of instructions for the warm eye compresses + massage, and then Azasite rubbed on the eyelids plus Restasis and then Blink eyedrops. I go back in a month and probably punctal plugs AGAIN. The first time I tried the plugs, I developed a latex allergy. Oww. So I will try again if there is an alternative to latex. I am not a fan of Restasis, liquid fire and what I have done so far today has burned like fire. I have the halos also but it seems to be from scar tissue from my eyelids gluing themselves to the eyeball. My eyelashes are turning under also. Not happy at all with this situation. One thing that you see a lot of anymore is the use of Flax seed oil, omega three's, etc. Worth a try. I have a problem of slow clotting so the oil agravates that. Check out the Sjogren's Foundation. They have updated their info on dry eyes since the last time I looked. I don't belong anymore because they charge $28 a year, have an excellent newsletter, but they accept advertising and then endorse those products. I bought a few of the items and found them to be a total rip off. They pull in enough money without my $28, but their website does have a lot of free information

imaskeered - did you have the halos before taking Plaquenil? I have scar tissue also but the opthamologist didn't seem to think this was the problem. I just had collagen plugs put in (one in each eye). When I go back next month the doctor said he is going to put 2 silicone plugs in each eye. I had a bad reaction in one eye 7 years ago when I tried the silicone plugs and told him this. He thinks it is worth trying again. You said you had a reaction to the latex. I also have a latex allergy. Did they tell you there is latex in the plugs?

I don't know if latex was mentioned, just that it was a miserable experience, performed by a rude, dismissive optometrist in an opthalmologist's practice. It was implied that I had unrealistic expectations. He kept putting me off, that they were going to obtain a different composition of plug and 2 times I was scheduled for the "new type" but they wouldn't have gotten them in yet cheerfully charged Medicare and my secondary for the visits. The 3rd time, he put in plugs of an unknown composition, no relief but no horrible reaction and they disappeared within a month. I quit that practice and went to a "well-renowned" opthalmologist who dismissed me with stern admonishment to wash my eyes with straight baby shampoo (should be diluted 10 parts water to 1 part baby shampoo). I now have a chronic skin condition from washing my eyes 4-6 times a day, this happened 2 years ago. It is my understanding that the scar tissue can lead to blindness and that the halo is actually caused by the raised surface on the cornea. I have worked very hard trying to do the right things for my eyeballs but don't seem to have much success. My lack of saliva is a serious problem too and besides the painful lips, my teeth are in peril. I should buy stock in Biotene, Blistex, and every manufacturer of eye drops. I personally would seek a second opinion about scar tissue not being a problem. Keep in touch, Patti

I have had to quit driving at night because the lights are so large. I never thought of it as a halo effect but sounds like it. I do have two cataracts that I will be booked to have removed next summer. Maybe I should check with my eye Dr. about this. He only comes up here once a month though. Hugs to all marilyn

Still haven't heard back from the doctor. But this came on so suddenly that I am really concerned this is from the Plaquenil. I would think the cataract thing would be very gradual.

Sam: Still having the issue?

I would doubt it 's from plaquenil with your dosage and length of use. It takes time for it to build toxicity from what I can gather. If you are on other drugs too maybe it has some magnifying effects?

I'd press the doctor a little !

I got a positive lip biopsy for Sjogren's but my rheumatologist refuses to prescribe anything for me, so I'm not on any meds for Sjogren's, but I do see halos around lights at night. I asked my family doctor about it and she said it meant nothing. Course, if I went to see her with a severed arm, she'd say it means nothing. Driving at night is confusing for me bc I find my depth of vision to be very skewed. Things that are far away appear closer, which means I have the sensation that I'm about to run into things when they are still yet very far away.

I was diagnosed with severe sleep apnea last month (was waking up 40 times per hour from not breathing) and now I'm on a cpap machine. As a result of having undiagnosed sleep apnea for decades, I also have high blood pressure and diabetes. I had told my family doctor that I couldn't sleep good, that I woke up more tired than when I went to bed, and she gave me her pat response for everything: "It doesn't mean anything." So, on my own I went to a sleep doctor and found out I had severe sleep apnea.

I'm waking up about 1 to 2 times per hour now. Sleeping with a mask, hose, and machine takes a bit of adjustment (I'm putting it mildly), but I'd rather not end up with strokes, heart disease, etc, and then later be called an Alzheimer's patient, which is usually the chronology for untreated sleep apnea.

With the cpap mask on and tape over my mouth to prevent mouth breathing, it is a bit of an additional burden for someone with Sjogren's bc I'm used to waking up and spraying my mouth a couple of times a night for the dry burning mouth/throat that most of us have. So I have to untape my mouth, then spray it, then put the tape back into place, and this can really interrupt sleep a bit more than I'd like. I can use a chin strap (a large velcro band that goes around the head) in place of the mouth tape, but sometimes the chin strap makes me sweat too much.

I apologize for getting off the subject. I started out by saying that I see the lovely rainbow halos at night all the time, but I'm not on any meds for Sjogren's, so what is going on? My eye checkups are always normal, no inflammation of the optic nerve, everything looks okay. I have large floaters in each eye but they don't cause the halo effect.

Tom - It's been a week since I took any Plaquenil. Last night I noticed that the halos were not as distinct. Don't know if this is a coincidence or not. I'm going to stay off the Plaquenil and see if they go away. I'll keep everyone updated. But yes I am on many other meds and maybe this is adding to the effect.

Springgreen - did your eye doctor offer any suggestion as to what could be causing the halos? I'm surprised they aren't addressing this. Mine at least said it could be early signs of cataract formation (although one of our group members said she has small cataracts and doesn't see halos).

All the doctor said about it was that he *thinks* it's bc of the dryness in the eyes. I do have one very teeny tiny cataract in the right eye. I see the rainbow halos with both eyes though. I can't see crap at night if I try to drive. It's all visually confusing. Oncoming headlights blind me. Needless to say I don't drive at night more than a mile or 2, and only if I have no other choice. F
or example, the other night I had to go to the pharmacy to get medicine for my husband bc he was very sick.

I had never heard of dryness causing halos before. I wonder if anyone else on here has been told that.
By the way, I jumped the gun when I said the halos didn't seem as distinct now. Tonight they were as vivid as ever.